Elephantitis – Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

You want to know more about the Elephantitis? This is the article you are looking for. We will discuss in this article about everything there is to know about Elephantitis. The cause, symptoms and how it can possibly be cured.

What is Elephantitis?

This condition refers to the severe enlargement of the extremities of an individual whether it be the hands or the legs. It can also happen to the genitals of a person. According to research, it can be caused by various reasons. This will be discussed in the next paragraph.

Elephantitis Causes

According to medical experts, this condition may be caused by three major types of roundworms. They do this in such a way that they block the body’s lymphatic system and therefore trap all the bacteria as well as other harmful organisms within the body systems. The blockage may also cause some fluids to collect within the tissues which will therefore cause the swelling.

Here are other situations that may lead to the same condition is not detected early.

Genetics

Protozoan disease

The removal of lymph nodes through surgery

Strep Infections

Other causes may involve a bite from an infected mosquito.

These mosquitoes which are particularly females are usually carriers of worm larvae. If these are introduced into the bloodstream, the patients will then be infected by the worms that cause the disease.

Elephantitis Symptoms

Here are the most common symptoms of the disease.

Long-term fever

Chills

Abscess formation in the infected part of the body

Headaches

Vomiting

Physical pain

You as the patient may also experience having red streaks along the arms and legs. In addition, the only way to diagnose the disease properly would be through the detection of the parasite itself. This can have been through microscopic testing as well as blood tests.

This is a why is important for you to go to your doctor as soon as you see the visible signs and symptoms of the disease. If you can do this, then you would be able to detect the disease in the earliest possible time.

Elephantitis Treatment

As soon as the parasitic infection is detected, there are various steps by which the doctors can try to treat the disease as follows.

There is a one specific drug that they can use to help treat the condition. This drug is called diethylcarbamazine. Through this drug, the adult worms will be killed. It is important that they administer the drug in high dosages through many sessions because if this is not done properly, it may leave off some of the younger worms and leave them to be able to propagate still.

In this kind of Elephantitis disease, it is important that you are able to go to the doctor as early as you can so that you will not end up in the worst condition possible for you as the patient. It is also very important that you try to prevent this from happening in the first place.

You can do this by making sure that you clean your house every day so that the larvae carrying mosquitoes will not end up infecting your whole body.